Foundation system for beam of manufactured home

ABSTRACT

A foundation system  50  for supporting a support beam  80  of a manufactured home and for preventing longitudinal movement of the beam; beam  80  having a longitudinal axis defining the longitudinal direction. Ground support pan  52  including blades  57  for insertion in the ground for preventing horizontal movement and a bracket  61  pivotably connecting lower ends  73  of a pair of rigid arms  70  substantially to the longitudinal middle of pan  53  such that arms  70  form a V. Each upper end  76  of arms  70  is pivotably attached to a clamp  10  clamped to beam  80  such that the clamp  10  cannot move along beam  80.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a foundation system for supporting abeam of a manufactured home and preventing the beam from movinglongitudinally, thus functioning both as a pier and as longitudinalbraces.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Manufactured homes, mobile homes or trailer coaches include longlongitudinal support beams underneath. Typically, when the home or coachis installed, a plurality of vertical piers or jacks are placed underthe beams to support them. Most piers or jacks require placement on arigid ground pad so as to not sink into the ground from the loading.Conventional piers do not provide resistance to longitudinal forces orlateral forces that may be exerted on the coach such as by strong windsor earthquakes. Thus, additional stabilizing and anchoring systems haveto be used.

[0003] It is desirable to have an improved foundation system that bothsupports the beam and provides longitudinal stability.

[0004] Since many foundation systems are required for a singlemanufactured home and since these systems have to be installed in thefield and in a confined space under a manufactured home, it is desirablethat they be simple and fast to install, preferably by a single person,not require complex tools and not require any alterations to the presentbeams, such as drilling, that could decrease the strength of the beams.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The invention is a foundation system for supporting a supportbeam of a manufactured home and for preventing longitudinal movement ofthe beam; the beam having a longitudinal axis defining the longitudinaldirection. The foundation system generally comprises a pair of rigidarms, a ground support, and a pair of clamps. Each arm has a lower endand an upper end.

[0006] The ground support includes a pan for placement on the groundincluding blades for insertion in the ground for preventing horizontalmovement and a bracket pivotably connecting the lower ends of the armssubstantially to the longitudinal middle of the pan such that the armsform a V.

[0007] A clamp is associated with each arm. Each clamp includes a boltfor pivotably attaching the upper end of its associated arm and forclamping the clamp to the support beam such that the clamp cannot movealong the beam.

[0008] The features and advantages of the invention will be readilyunderstood when the detailed description thereof is read in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer tolike parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of thefoundation system of the invention attached to a support beam of amanufactured home.

[0010]FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of FIG. 1.

[0011]FIG. 3A is a sectional view taken on line 3A-3A of FIG. 2.

[0012]FIG. 3B is a sectional view taken on line 3B-3B of FIG. 2.

[0013]FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a clamp for attachingthe foundation system to a support beam of a manufactured home.

[0014]FIG. 5 is a partial side elevation view of the beam connection.

[0015]FIG. 6 is an end view of the beam connection taken on line 6-6 ofFIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] With reference now to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a perspective viewof an exemplary embodiment of the foundation system 50 of the inventionattached to a support beam 80 of a manufactured home. FIG. 2 is a frontelevation view of FIG. 1. FIG. 3A is a sectional view taken on line3A-3A of FIG. 2. FIG. 3B is a sectional view taken on line 3B-3B of FIG.2.

[0017] Foundation system 50 includes a ground support means 52, a pairof rigid arms 70 and means, such as a pair of clamps 10, each clamp 10for attaching an arm 70 to beam 80.

[0018] Each arm 70 has an upper end 76 and a lower end 73. Each upperend 76 and lower end 73 includes a bore 77 for receiving a fastener, 40,64 respectively, for pivotable connection. Arms 70 may be of anysuitably strong material, such as of one and one-half inch square steeltube.

[0019] Ground support means 52 prevents downward and horizontal movementof lower ends 73 of arms 70 and retains lower ends 73 of arms 70 in afixed, but pivotable, position. Ground support means 52, includes asupport, such as a cement footing or ground pan 53, shown, and armconnecting means 60. Ground pan 53 has a top surface 54, a bottom 55,and ground blade means 56, such as insertion perimeter 57, that is aperimeter downward extending wall. Ground pan 53 is placed on the groundand insertion perimeter 57 is pressed into the ground. When pan 53 isweighted, the side-facing wall of insertion perimeter 57 preventshorizontal movement of pan 53. The area of bottom 55 of pan 53 bearsagainst surface 91 of soil 90 and prevents downward movement. Ground pan53 is made of strong material such as of steel.

[0020] Arm connecting means 60 includes a bracket, such as U-bracket 61,and bolt 64. U-bracket 61 is connected to ground pan 53 by any suitablemeans, such as welding, and includes bores for receiving a fastener,such as bolt 64. Bolt 64 is disposed through bores 77 for side by sidelower ends 73 of arms 70 and pivotably connects lower ends 73 of arms 70to bracket 61. Bolt 64 is located substantially in the longitudinalmiddle of pan 53.

[0021]FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a clamp 10 for attachingfoundation system 50 to support beam 80 of a manufactured home. FIG. 5is a partial side elevation view of the beam connection. FIG. 6 is anend view of the beam connection taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

[0022] Support beam 80 has a vertical web 81 and a bottom end 82 havinga lateral flange 83 including a front flange 83F and a rear flange 83R.Each flange 83F, 83R has a top 84, a bottom 85, and a free end 86. Beam80 top 88 supports a manufactured home.

[0023] Clamp 10 includes a pair of flange mount members 20, such asfront member 20F and rear member 20R, and connecting means, such as anadjustable tension member, such as carriage bolt 40 and nut 41. Eachflange mount member 20F, 20R includes a top 22, a medial side 23 facingweb 81, and a lower portion 30. Medial side 23 includes a channel 24adapted for receiving a flange, 83F or 83R. Channel 24 includes a topsurface 25 and a bottom surface 26. Lower portion 30 is lower thanchannel 24 and, therefore, below flange 83F, 83R when member 20 ismounted thereon. Lower end 30 includes bores 34 for receiving bolt 40.Preferably, at least one of these bores 34 is adapted, such as by beingsquare, to prevent the head of bolt 40 from turning. In the exemplaryembodiment, members 20 are made of U-shaped steel.

[0024] Clamp 10 is attached to beam 80 by mounting channel 24 of frontmember 20F on front flange 83F and mounting channel 24 of rear member20R on rear flange 83R opposite front member 20F. Top end 76 of arm 70is placed between lower end 30 of mounted members 20F, 2OR and carriagebolt 40 is inserted through bores 34 and 77 to pivotably connect arm 70to clamp 10.

[0025] Bolt 40 is tightened, such as by turning nut 41, and urges lowerportions 30 of mounted members 20F, 20R together as seen in FIG. 4 suchthat at least one of mounted channels 24 binds on its received flange83F, 83R and holds clamp 10 in place on beam 80.

[0026] Preferably, channels 24 have a depth such that mounted members20F, 20R are sufficiently separated such that there is more than enoughroom for upper end 76 of arm 70 to fit therebetween and such thattightening bolt 40 pulls lower ends 30 together and tilts them so as tobind. Channels 24 have a height such that forcing lower ends 30 outwardor inward so as to tilt members 20, such as by tightening bolt 40, bindschannels 24 on flange 83 such that clamp 10 cannot move. In this manner,tightening a single bolt 40 clamps clamp 10 in a given location on beam80. Clamp 10 can be used to support beam 80 and prevent beam 80 fromlongitudinal movement.

[0027] To use foundation system 50, a manufactured home is firstsupported by any suitable temporary means, such as piers or jacks,well-known in the art. Pan 53 is placed on surface 91 of soil 90 groundunder support beam 80 of a manufactured home and blade or insertionperimeter 57 is pressed into soil 90. Lower ends 73 of arms 70 arepivotably attached, such as by a single bolt 64, to pan 53. Each clamp10 is pivotably attached to upper end 76 of its respective arm 70 and tolower flange 83 of beam 80, each such as by a single bolt 40. Thetemporary supports can now be removed.

[0028] Arms 70 pivot so as to attach anywhere along beam 80. The spacingbetween beam 80 and ground surface 91 is not critical as it only changesthe angle of the “V” of arms 70. Therefore, arms 70 do not need to beadjustable in length. Arms 70 of a single length may likely be useablefor supporting a given home regardless of irregularities in groundlevel. Preferably, arms 70 are raised an angle of 40 to 60 degrees. Ingeneral, the smaller the angle, the greater the prevention oflongitudinal movement of beam 80.

[0029] It has been found that pivotably attaching arms 70 to thelongitudinal middle of pan 53 prevents pan 53 from lifting and causingfailure if beam 80 attempts to move longitudinally. Beam 80 is bothsupported and prevented from longitudinal movement by tightening justthree bolts. No drilling is required.

[0030] From the foregoing description, it is seen that the foundationsystem of the invention provides an extremely simple, efficient, andreliable manner for supporting a support beam of a manufactured home andfor preventing longitudinal movement of the beam.

[0031] Although a particular embodiment of the invention has beenillustrated and described, various changes may be made in the form,composition, construction, and arrangement of the parts herein withoutsacrificing any of its advantages. Therefore, it is to be understoodthat all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not inany limiting sense, and it is intended to cover in the appended claimssuch modifications as come within the true spirit and scope of theinvention.

We claim:
 1. A foundation system for supporting a support beam of amanufactured home and for preventing longitudinal movement of the beam;the beam having a longitudinal axis defining the longitudinal direction,said foundation system comprising: a pair of rigid arms jointly forminga V; each arm including: a lower end; and an upper end; ground supportmeans including: a support for preventing downward and horizontalmovement; and arm connecting means for pivotably connecting said lowerends of said arms to said support; a pair of clamps; each clampassociated with a said arm; each clamp including: attachment means forpivotably attachment to said upper end of its associated said arm; andclamping means for clamping said clamp to the support beam such thatsaid clamp cannot move along said beam.
 2. The foundation system ofclaim 1 wherein: said arm connecting means is a single fastener.
 3. Thefoundation system of claim 1 wherein: said arm connecting means is asingle bolt.
 4. The foundation system of claim 3 wherein: saidattachment means and said clamping means comprises a single fastener. 5.The foundation system of claim 1 wherein: said support includes: a panincluding: a bottom for bearing against the ground for preventingdownward movement; and blade means for insertion in the ground forpreventing horizontal movement; and wherein: said arm connecting meanspivotably connect said lower ends of said arms substantially to thelongitudinal middle of said pan.
 6. In combination: a horizontal supportbeam for a manufactured home; the beam having a longitudinal axisdefining the longitudinal direction; a foundation system supporting saidsupport beam and for preventing longitudinal movement of said beam; saidfoundation system comprising a pair of rigid arms jointly forming a V;each arm including: a lower end; and an upper end; ground support meansincluding: a support for preventing downward and horizontal movement;and arm connecting means pivotably connecting said lower ends of saidarms to said support; a pair of clamps; each clamp associated with asaid arm; each clamp including: attachment means for pivotableattachment to said upper end of its associated said arm; and clampingmeans for clamping said clamp to said support beam such that said clampcannot move along said beam.
 7. The foundation system of claim 6wherein: said support includes: a pan including: a bottom for bearingagainst the ground for preventing downward movement; and blade means forinsertion in the ground for preventing horizontal movement; and wherein:said arm connecting means pivotably connect said lower ends of said armssubstantially to the longitudinal middle of said pan.
 8. The combinationof claim 6 wherein: said arm connecting means is a single fastener. 9.The combination of claim 6 wherein: said arm connecting means is asingle bolt.
 10. The combination of claim 9 wherein: said attachmentmeans and said clamping means comprises a single fastener.
 11. Thecombination of claim 10 wherein: said support beam includes: a bottomend including: a lateral flange including: a front flange; and a rearflange; each flange having a top, a bottom, and a free end; and eachsaid clamp includes: a front member including: a top; a medial sidefacing said beam including: a channel adapted for receiving said frontflange including:  a top surface; and  a bottom surface; and a lowerportion lower than said channel; a rear member including: a top; amedial side facing said beam including: a channel adapted for receivingsaid rear flange including:  a top surface; and  a bottom surface; and alower portion lower than said channel; and said attachment means andsaid clamping means connect said lower portions of said clamp membersfor urging them together such that at least one said channel binds onits received said flange and holds said clamp in place on said beam. 12.A method of supporting a support beam of a manufactured home and forpreventing longitudinal movement of the beam; the beam having alongitudinal axis defining the longitudinal direction; the methodcomprising: providing a pair of rigid arms; each arm including: a lowerend; and an upper end; providing a ground support means including asupport for preventing downward and horizontal movement and armconnecting means for pivotably connecting the lower ends of the arms tothe support; pivotably connecting the lower ends of the arms with thearm connecting means to the support; providing a pair of clamps; eachclamp associated with an arm; pivotably attaching the upper end of eacharm to its associated clamp; and clamping the clamps to the support beamsuch that the clamps cannot move along the beam.
 13. The method of claim12 wherein the step of pivotably connecting the lower ends of the armswith the arm connecting means substantially to the support includes:passing a bolt through both arms.
 14. The method of claim 12 wherein thestep of clamping each clamp to the beam includes: tightening a singlefastener.
 15. The method of claim 12 wherein: the support provided inthe step of providing a ground support means includes a pan including: abottom; and blade means for preventing horizontal movement; and the armconnecting means are located substantially at the longitudinal middle ofthe pan; and further including the steps of: placing the pan on theground under the beam; and inserting the blade means into the ground forpreventing horizontal movement.
 16. The method of claim 15 wherein thestep of pivotably connecting the lower ends of the arms with the armconnecting means substantially to the longitudinal middle of the panincludes: passing a bolt through both arms.